The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-03-11
nnoonmarkn before Miaa Mareia arose

stnOOnmark before Miss Marcia arose
rc1ss hhSE . and proceeded &c clear
the breakfast table. She thought as
she washed the one cup and saucer
that in a short time she wouldnolo long
err sit solitary at meals.
at will be pleasant to have ONE
one to talk with and take me to
church, and he's q good man, Fred
Appleyard is. Strange, il he's always
thought so much of me, thathe hain't
come over ~oftener, but l s'pose it's
his way. Men have odd ways.
They're different from women. won.
der what Jonas'll say. Is'pose he'll
be s'prised for nobody expected he'd
marry again, anyway | didn't, and
I've been murmuring over my lonely
lot"
That evening dressed in her second
best" gray cashmere, with pink ribbon
at her throat, a faint flush Of expect
ancy on her cheeks, Miss Marcia sat
in the sitting room before the blazing
fire waiting the arrival of the deacon.
And sure enough as the clock struck
seven he appeared at the door.
"Walk right in the sitting-room.
There's a good fire in there. Let me
help you off with your coat. Is'posed
it was you when / heard some n
passing awhile ago."
Deacon ~Appleyard wonderingly fol-
lowed Miss Marcia into the tidy sitting
room and took the easy chair before
the glowing fire, and thought howpret-
ty Marcia looked, almost, il not quite
as pretty as in the old days of her
eirlhood, when he had hoped and
dreamed that she might be nearer and
dearer than q mere friend.
The good man was silent so long
that Miss Marcia supposed he was
waiting for her to speak, and nervous
ly lingering the ribbon, at her thr oat,
she began:
~ s'pose you're come for your an
swer, Fred. l must say was surpris-
ed enough, when / got your valentine
and letter this morning, still I'll tell
you the truth. You say you have al
ways loved me, it is the same with
me. / cared for you years ago but
thought that you felt only friendship
for me. If you think ! can make you
happy, l will be glad to become your
wife,
Deacon Appleyard listened at first
in wonder. There was some mistake,
that vas evident, but of one blissful
part he was sure, Marcia would marry
him and as she concluded, he took her
in his arms with the words:
81 have always wanted you for my
wife. For the past year, Ihave wished
| dared speak, dear Marcia"
What a happy evening they passed.
What plans for the future were made.
Before Deacon A~ppleyard took his
leave that evening, he said;
"Let me see the letter you received
this morning, NJ "cla."
She brought letter and he read
it, then said as finished;
"Marcia this letter belongs to your
niece. Jonas daughter. Her name
is Marcia, too, you know. My son
Fred, has been keeping company with
her for some time. He is in Merton
now, and has sent this to her. We
must give it to her."
"And you wrote that letter.
o, dear what q mistake made. What
must you think of me? Pm so sorry"
"Well you needn't be sorry. I'm
wonderful glad about it, and | think
you're the best woman alive! 1t is a
blessed mistake for a man like me.
and / can never feel thankful enough
that you've promised to be my wife.
I'll give this letter to Marcia myself"
And pretty niece Marcia must have
been well pleased with the letter, for
in two weeks there was a double we'd
ding and now it would be hard to find
two happier homes in all buxton,
thai the two presided over by Marcia
and her niece.